Shadow Market: Gourmet Provisions for every meal

“We’re now grocery deli,” explained owner Tom Meli.

“We have moved away from the traditional convenience store. We want to cater to our customers with fresh salads, freshly baked local breads, gourmet cheeses and imported cold cuts. We are in the process of expanding our deli case and adding new items. We get fresh bread deliveries each day from bakeries such as Rockland, Bel Pane, Gianella’s and Fragales. Our fresh ravioli is from Raffetto’s and our fresh sauces are from Raffetto’s and Rao’s. We are expanding our lines with items you can’t find in most stores.”

Shadow Market opened in August of 2011 and is the brainchild of Tom and Michelle Meli. Tom was born and raised in Hackensack and is a Hackensack and Farleigh Dickenson Alumnus and Michelle was born and raised in Hackensack and is an Mt. Carmel and Felician College Alumnus.

Avid dog lovers, they are the happy parents to a loving dog, Liberty, a therapy dog who makes them proud. Their two other dogs, Shadow, who the store is named after and Mickey, who the couple’s foundation is named after, are now deceased. 

Michelle has ties into the grocery industry as most old-time Hasbrouck Heights residents remember her father; Lennie of Bennie’s Market formerly located on the Boulevard and had been a downtown staple for years.  Tom had worked for 23
years as an Operating Vice-President for A & S Department Stores and uses
his previous knowledge of retailing to create a festive shopping environment.

When customers walk into Shadow Market, the aroma of fresh coffee, homemade cheeses and salads, greets them.  The baskets are full of freshly baked breads and pastries. 

“We don’t have the capability to cook hot foods in our store, so we specialize in cold entrees and sandwiches,” Tom explained.  “Our cold cuts are from Boars Head and others are imported from Italy and they give our sandwiches that extra special touch.  You can taste the difference in any one of our specialty heroes.”

Some of the specialty sandwiches offered are “The Twin”, fresh bread stuffed with roast beef, smoked Gouda, roasted red peppers, horseradish sauce, lettuce and tomato,  the “Aviator Muffuletta” which is fresh bread stuffed with olive spread, deluxe ham, prosciutto DiParma, capicola, sopressata, provolone, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, oregano and onions and “The Mike”, which  is fresh bread stuffed with prosciutto DiParma, capicola, mortadella, cherry peppers, oil and vinegar, lettuce, tomato and onion.  The store also carries all sorts of freshly made salads including tuna, potato, German potato, macaroni and coleslaw.

“We enjoy talking with our customers and providing them with a friendly atmosphere to do their shopping.  We also try to provide them with items that they would not find in other grocery stores.  We especially enjoy welcoming our student customers after school and provide the kids with a specially priced menu for their after-school snacks,” Tom added.  “What is nice about Shadow Market is that we have parking right in front of the store and that makes it convenient for our customers.  We are also close to two bus stops going into and coming out of the city, we have a lot of people dropping by to pick up items for carryout.”

On top of their specialty merchandise, Shadow Market carries many staples including chips, baked goods, assorted beverages, cereals and other standard grocery items.  It is also a good place to pick up your lottery tickets.  “We carry good quality merchandise and some grocery standards for those customers who don’t want to make a trek to the supermarkets,” Tom said.

The Meli’s believe in being involved in their community.  Tom had served as a Councilman for Hasbrouck Heights from 2004-2006.  Tom also serves as the OEM Fire Liaison between the town and the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department.  The Meli’s founded Mickey’s Kids, a 501C3 non-profit organization that works with Canine Assistance. 

“We work with Canine Assistants, providing service dogs to disabled children and returning veterans with Post Traumatic Stress. “  Some of the dogs we help place are service dogs to people who need help in their everyday lives and some dogs are therapy dogs to help relieve stress. You would be amazed on how these dogs change people’s outlooks.”  The store carries all sorts of hats, shirts and shorts promoting their Canine programs.

The store is stocked with canine accessories and gourmet doggie treats that cater to all four-footed clients.

The Meli’s personal touch with assisting members of our community shows in their love of their business.  “People want that personal touch,” Tom said.  “Customers want to talk with people behind the counter when they are making their purchases.  I find that our customers enjoy meeting the owner of the store.  When you are in an economy such as this one and many stores are carrying similar merchandise, you have to be a little better and a little more unique than the competition.  We have found our niche in the market and are building on it. We are more than just a convenience store; we are a specialty grocery gourmet deli with an aim to wow the customers.”

Shadow’s Food Market
273 Boulevard
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ  07604
201- 288-1070
201- 288-3287 (fax)